'■'"■   ''OBERT-  E,  COWAN  COLLECTION 

I'RKSKNTRD    TO   THK 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


Recess iori  No,  / 


C,  P,  HUNTINGTON 

lUNE,  1897. 

Glass'No. 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


^^^^ 


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Single  numbers  35  cents. 


Contents  of  No.  9,  Vol.  III. 

Sponges.     By  Bryce  M.  Wright,  jr.     Illustrated,     p.  449. 

Kambkes  in  Flohida,     By  K.  K.  C.  Stearns.     Concluded,   p.  455. 
y"      Thk  Natuualist  in  Calikohnia.     By  J.  G.  Cooper,  M.D.     p.  470. 
"'    Hints  on  Taxidekmy.     By  C.  A.  WalkeiC     Concluded,    p.  481. 

The  Fresh-watek  Aquarium.     By  C.  B.  Brighum.     p.  48G. 

Reviews.  The  Development  of  Insects,  p.  490.  The  Generations  of 
Worms,  p.  494.  Florida  and  the  South,  p.  494.  Annals  of  Bee  Culture. 
p.  494. 

Natural  History  Miscellany.  Botany.  — Tendency  of  Floral  Organs 
to  Exchange  Offices,  p.  494.  Herbarium  of  the  late  Dr.  Walker-Arnott. 
p.  495.  New  Locality  of  Aspidium  aculatum  (L)  Sw.  p.  495.  Zo- 
ology.—A  llemarkable  Echinoderm.  p.  495.  The  Tennessee  Warbler, 
p.  496.  Golden-winged  Warbler,  p.  497.  Coral  Snakes,  p.  497.  The 
Black  Vulture  in  Maine,  p.  498.  il/tcroscoj;*j/. —Method  of  Preserving 
Animal  Specimens  for  fine  dissection,  p.  498.  Geology.— The  Eozoou 
in  Essex  County,     p.  498. 

Proceedings  of  the  American  Association  eor  the  Advancement 
of  Science,   p.  499. 

Valuable  Library  fo)i  Sale.     p.  503. 

Correspondence,    p.  503. 

Books  Received,  p.  504. 

Terms. 

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ESSEX   institute   PRESS. 


I 


RAMBLES    IN    FLORIDA.  469 

as  if  placed  by  human  hands.  It  required  no  flight  of  the 
imagination  to  transform  these  charming  forest  vistas  into 
the  long,  dim,  aisles  of  cathedrals ;  the  trunks  of  the  trees 
formiug  the  pillars,  and  the  graceful  leaves  of  the  palmetto, 
overarched,  forming  a  roof. 

"  The  gloves  were  God's  first  temples." 

We  sat  up  late,  enjoying  the  glories  of  the  night,  the  last 
of  our  out-door  camping  in  Florida.  Early  the  followiug 
morning  we  "broke  camp"  and  prepared  for  the  return  trip 
to  Cedar  Keys.  Hoisting  the  anchor  with  a  cheerful  "heave 
yo,"  the  sails  of  the  Santa  Maria  soon  tilled,  and  we  were 
homeward  bound.  We  gave  a  farewell  look  by  way  of  a 
parting  salute  to  Piney  Key,  as  it  stood  out  bright  and  beau- 
tiful in  the  purple  light  of  the  morning : 

The  slanting  sun  shone  white  along  the  sand, 
Strewn  with  green  sea-weeds  and  with  crimson  shells, 
Out  of  the  ocean's  dim  mysterious  cells, 

Jewelling  all  the  broadskirts  of  the  land. 

Arriving  at  Cedar  Keys  after  a  pleasant  voyage,  we  pro- 
ceeded homeward  over  the  same  route  by  which  we  came. 

The  winter  climate  of  Florida  is  not  only  healthful  but 
delightful ;  in  the  summer  there  is  dansrer  of  contractins: 
fever  and  ague,  and  the  yellow  fever  is  an  occasional  visitor. 
The  climatic  advantages  to  the  invalid  are  at  the  present 
time  counterbalanced  by  the  miserable  food  and  discomforts 
of  the  hotels  and  boarding  houses;  there  are  undoubtedlv 
exceptions  to  the  last  objection,  but  they  are  rare.  The  ex- 
penses of  a  three  months  trip  are  quite  heavy  and  we  could 
make  a  journey  to  Europe  or  California,  of  the  same  dura- 
tion for  the  same  cost,  and  live  intiuitely  better  in  bed  and 
board. 

In  an  agricultural  point  of  view  Florida  offers  no  induce- 
ments to  the  emigrant  or  settler  that  are  not  surpassed  by 
many  other  sections  of  the  country,  whether  quality  of  soil, 
facilities  of  transportation,  accessibility  to  markets,  or  va- 
riety or  capabilities  of  production  are  considered.     An  emi- 


470  NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

gration  of  enterprising  and  inclnstrious  people,  in  snfficient 
numbers  so  as  to  exercise  a  controlling!:  influence,  would  in  a 
few  years  effect  a  great  change  for  the  better,  and  place  the 
State  in  the  line  of  progress.  The  average  Floridian  of 
to-day  understands  only  one  thing,  and  that  is  "how  not  to 
do  it."  Emigration  should  be  by  colonies,  and  should  in- 
clude some  mechanics,  and  be  Avell  provided  with  all  neces- 
sary agricultural  and  mechanical  implements  and  material, 
in  order  to  be  successful,  and  great  care  should  be  exercised 
in  the  selection  of  a  location. 

The  trip  to  Florida,  of  Avhich  these  "Rambles"  afford  a 
mere  outline,  was  not  devoid  of  scientific  interest,  and  the 
results  will  be  made  known  at  some  future  time,  either  iu 
the  Naturalist  or  some  other  appropriate  publication. 


THE    NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

BY   J.  G.  COOPER,  M.  D. 


NO.  II. 

The  Colorado  Valleij  in  ivinter. — I  arrived  at  Fort  Mo- 
jave,  after  a  journey  of  sixteen  clays  from  Los  Angeles,* 
on  December  19th,  18G0.  This  post  is  situated  close  to 
latitude  35°,  where  the  boundary  line  of  California  strikes 
the  river,  and  although  on  the  Arizonian  side,  has,  probably, 
no  species  of  animals  not  also  living  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  river,  unless  Lejjus  callotis  be  an  exception.  This,  the 
Texan  hare,  I  found  common  there,  while  L.  Californicus 
is  the  prevalent,  if  not  the  only  large  species  westward. 
The  valley  of  the  Colorado  at  this  post  is,  probably,  ten 
miles  in  width,  and  formed  of  a  succession  of  gravell}''  ter- 
races, or  mesas,  with  a  narrow  sandy  bottom  intervening, 

*Not  Angelos,  as  printed  before.    Spanish,  not  Italian. 


NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA.  471 

not  over  a  mile  wide.  The  whole  upland  has  a  most  barren 
and  desolate  aspect,  the  only  vegetation  being  low  shrubs  of 
the  fetid  Larrea  Mexicana,  with  cacti  and  other  tliorny 
plants  beneath.  The  bottom  land,  however,  supi)orts  a 
vio-orous  growth  of  cottonwood,  willows,  and  niesquite, 
a  name  applied  there  to  two  quite  ditierent  trees,  the  Alga- 
robia  glandulosa  and  8ti'omhocarpa  jmbescens.  Dense  shrub- 
bery and  coarse  grasses  cover  most  of  the  ground,  even 
under  the  darkest  shade,  though  spots  are  sometimes  too 
alkaline  for  any  vegetation  except  a  few  sea-shore  plants, 
and  in  places  the  winds  keep  up  a  rolling  waste  of  sand 
hills.  The  river  itself  is  so  low  in  winter  that  the  Indians 
can  wade  across  with  their  heads  above  water,  and  is  so 
muddy  as  to  fully  deserve  its  name. 

After  my  desert  experience,  I  gazed  with  delight  on  the 
broad  flashing  stream,  with  its  forest-clad  banks,  even  though 
the  trees  were  then  bare,  and  the  whole  country  nearly  of 
the  same  brown  tint  as  the  river,  for  I  knew  that  the  very 
barrenness  of  the  surrounding  regions  must  drive  most  of 
the  animal  life  to  the  river  banks,  one  class  in  search  of 
vegetable  food  the  other  to  prey  upon  the  former,  while 
such  as  loved  water  must  necessarily  seek  it  here.  And, 
with  the  exceptions  mentioned  as  desert  animals  in  my  for- 
mer article,  nearly  all  of  the  higher  animals  are  confined  to 
this  narrow  belt  of  timber,  stretching  along  the  course  of 
the  Colorado  from  its  Great  Canon,  thirty  miles  higher  up, 
down  to  its  mouth.  Those  living  permanently  on  the  up- 
lands must  depend  on  a  very  scanty  supply  of  dew  for  water 
during  most  of  the  year. 

I  must  remark  here  that  in  climate  this  region  belongs  to 
Mexico,  the  winter  being  the  drj/  season,  and  the  summer 
subject  to  violent  thunder  storms  from  the  south,  but  not 
wet,  the  whole  annual  rain  not  exceeding  three  or  four 
inches,  of  which  perhaps  one  falls  in  winter.  The  tempera- 
ture rarely  falls  below  the  freezing  point  in  latitude  od°, 
althouirh  the  surroundins:  mountains  were  white  with  snow 


472  NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

ou  several  occasions  during  January.  The  elevation  of  the 
river  at  this  point  is  not  over  550  feet,  and  the  whole  bottom 
land  is  inundated  nearly  every  summer.  The  distance  by 
the  course  of  the  river  from  its  mouth  is  400  miles. 

Tlie  fauna  of  the  valley  naturally  partakes  much  of  the 
Mexican  (west  slope)  character,  and  has  some  peculiarities. 
It  is  too  limited  and  too  liable  to  inundation  for  many  land 
mammalia  to  flourish  in  it,  except  such  as  are  common  to  the 
neighboring  deserts  and  mountains.  A  second  species,  at 
present  known  no  farther  west,  is  the  Leaf-nosed  Bat  (3Ia- 
crotus  CaUfornicus)  from  Fort  Yuma.  This  bat,  like  the 
birds,  is  independent  of  floods,  and  is  probably  migratory 
southward  in  winter,  like  two  species  I  obtained  at  Fort 
Mojave — the  Pale  Bat  (Antrozous  pcdlidus),  and  a  small 
species  of  Vespevtilio  which  did  not  appear  until  March  15th, 
thonoh  the  climate  was  warm  enough  for  weeks  before. 

On  walking  out  with  my  gun  I  was  struck  with  surprise 
at  the  great  numbers  of  Abert's  Finch  {Pipilo  Abertii) 
frequenting  the  grove,  the  flocks  flitting  before  me  like  dry 
leaves  before  the  wind,  their  color  exactly  resembling  the 
prevailing  hue  of  the  foliage  covering  the  ground,  and  now 
densely  coated  with  brown  dust.  It  recalled  the  observation 
I  had  often  made  as  to  the  prevalence  of  this  brown  hue  in 
so  many  birds  of  California,  of  difl'ercnt  genera  and  fami- 
lies, but  agreeing  in  their  habit  of  living  in  low  shrubbery 
which  has  the  same  brown  and  dusty  tint  for  eight  or  nine 
months  of  the  year.  The  loud  call  or  alarm  note  of  this 
bird  Avas  strikingly  dift'erent  from  the  notes  of  its  more 
silent  cousin  near  the  coast,  the  P.  fuscus  (or  crissalis),  but 
I  soon  noticed  another  strange  fact,  namely,  that  this  note 
Avas  also  uttered  by  two  other  very  distinct  birds  of  dissim- 
ilar habits,  the  Shining  Flycatcher  and  Gila  Woodpecker 
( Centurus  uroj)ygidlis) ,  both  of  which  were  abundant  and 
feeding  together  on  the  berries  of  the  mistletoe,  parasitic 
on  almost  every  tree.  These  birds  Avere  my  first  specimens, 
together  with  the  common  Grass   Finch   (Pooeceies   grami- 


NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA.  473 

neus)  and  Chipping  Sparrow  {Sjpizella  socialis),  which  were 
wintering  there  in  small  flocks. 

Next  day  I  was  disgusted  to  find  my  specimens  damaged 
by  mice,  and,  on  setting  a  trap,  soon  secured  some  which 
I  cannot  distinguish,  except  by  a  lighter  hye,  from  the 
common  woodmouse  of  California  {Ilesperomys  GamheUii). 
These,  with  several  other  rodents,  had  taken  up  their  resi- 
dence in  the  thatched  roofs  of  our  adobe  quarters.  On 
Christmas  eve  a  little  ice  formed  in  the  valley,  but  next 
morning  the  Brown  Thrush  {Harporhynchus  crissalis)  of 
this  region  Avas  singing  melodiously,  and  exactly  in  the  style 
of  its  cousins  east  and  west,  so  well  known  as  "False 
Mockins:  Birds."  It  is  another  of  the  dead  leaf-colored 
birds  of  the  western  regions,  and  is  as  strictly  limited  to 
the  groves  as  its  pale  sandy-hued  relative,  II.  Lecontei,  is  to 
the  desert  shrubbery.* 

The  end  of  the  year  was  cold  and  stormy  for  this  latitude, 
so  that  no  additions,  except  more  northern  migrants,  were 
obtained  among  the  birds,  the  most  notable  being  the  Ore- 
gon Snowbird  (Junco  Oregonus),  and  a  few  of  the  Meadow 
Lark  [Sturnella  negleda) ,  vfith  several  species  of  ducks  and 
geese.  In  January,  Swans  (Ci/gnus  Americanus)  also  ap- 
peared for  a  few  days.  On  Jan.  10th  I  was  both  surprised 
and  pleased  to  obtain  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the  Bohemian 
Waxwing  (Ampelis  garrulus),  which  had  wandered  so  far 
from  the  mountains  north-eastward,  where  the  species 
abounds,  and,  probably  driven  by  storms,  had  sought  a  tem- 
porary refuge  iu  this  far  southern  latitude.  It  was  a  solitary 
straggler,  and  even  its  cousin,  A.  cedrorum,  never  appeared 
there  during  my  residence. 

On  the  16th  a  solitary  Mexican  Flycatcher  {Myiarchus 
Mexicanus),  evidently  almost  starved,  gave  a  specimen  of 
the   summer    group    of    migrants    lingering   in   the    valley 

*  I  may  here  correct  an  error  caused  by  the  transposition  of  a  line  in  my  last  article. 
"Con-espondiiig  in  color  to  the  rocks  among  which  it  lives,"  was  intended  for  Ilams's 
Squirrel,  tliough  it  loould  apply  pretty  well  to  the  Sage  Fowl  under  which  it  is  printed. 

AMER.    NATURALIST,    VOL.    III.  60 


474  NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

through  the  whiter.  Vegetation  was  just  commencing  to 
bud  forth  now,  and  I  observed  a  few  Doves  and  Cow-birds 
{Molothrus  pecoris),  apparently  attracted  by  the  opening 
spring,  as  none  appeared  before.  I  cannot  enumerate  all 
the  species  of  vertebrates  which  now  amounted  to  over 
fifty,  as  I  collected  them,  but  must  notice  only  the  more  re- 
markable.  The  resident  species  not  found  westward  of  this 
valley  were  the  Ladder  Woodpecker  {Plcus  scalaris),  the 
White-bellied  Wren  (^Tkriothorus  leuco g aster) ,  Gambel's 
Quail  (^Loj)hortyx  Gamhellii),  the  Arizona  Song-sparrow 
{Melosjnza  fallax) ,  the  lead-colored  Gnatcatcher  {^Polio])tila 
plumbea),  Malherbe's  Flicker  (^Cola/ptes  chrysoides),  and  the 
Yellow-headed  Titmouse  (Auriparus  Jlaviceps).  Besides 
these,  most  of  the  species  before  mentioned  are  resident, 
and  also  many  common  to  the  coast  regions.  Frosty  nights 
throughout  January  seemed  to  prevent  the  appearance  of 
any  new  birds.  Even  in  February  the  ucav  comers  were 
only  such  as  I  know  winter  in  more  northern  parts  of  Cali- 
fornia near  the  coast,  though  the  thermometer  rose  to  80° 
on  the  20th. 

February  27th,  a  few  Bank  Swallows  {Ootyle  riparia^ 
or  serripennis* )  and  bicolored  Swallows  {Hirundo  bicolor) 
appeared.  Even  these  last  winter  near  the  coast  much 
farther  north,  to  latitude  37°.  It  appears  that  there  is  little 
migration  along  this  valley  of  the  species  common  in  sum- 
mer near  the  coast,  as  they  have  to  cross  the  deserts,  and 
prefer  a  more  Avestern  route.  Some  of  the  icinter  residents 
however  became  more  scarce,  probably  seeking  the  moun- 
tains or  high  lands  not  more  than  a  hundred  miles  distant, 
while  the  strong-winged  hawks  and  swimmers  may  have 
gone  even  to  the  arctic  regions. 

Spring.  —  By  March  2d,  the  poplars  ("cottonwood")  were 
in  nearly  full  leaf,  and  beautiful  flowers  covered  the  richer 


*Dr.  Kennerley  found  this  species  here  "  abundant,"  February  21st,  1854.  Also,  the 
White-throated  Swift  (Paiti/pfila  melanohticn),  at  William's  Fork,  February  IGth,  and 
Western  Whippoorwill  {Autrostomus  NuttalUi),  February  23d. 


NATURALIST    IN    CALIFOKNIA.  475 

and  warmer  spots,  chiefly  in  the  ravines  of  the  neighboring 
monntains.  A  cluck  was  seen  by  an  old  resident  on  the 
river,  which  he  said  was  very  rare  there,  and  from  descrip- 
tion was  probably  the  long-logged  Tree-duck  {Dendrocyr/na 
fulva),  since  found  to  frequent  the  Sacramento  Valley  for 
nine  months  of  the  year,  and  to  ])reed  there ;  one  of  the  few 
peculiarly  western  species.  I  shot  or  observed  many  other 
species  of  aquatic  birds  while  here,  but  they  furnished  no 
very  interesting  facts.  I  obtained  one  each  of  the  Red- 
necked and  Williamson's  Woodpeckers  (^Sphyrapicus  nitcha- 
lis  and  Williamsonii),  the  only  ones  seen,  and  probably 
straii-o'lers  from  the  north. 

I  had  been  ten  weeks  at  the  post  before  I  saw  a  single 
Burrowing  Owl  (Athene  cunicularia) ,  and  then  found  only 
one  pair,  several  miles  distant,  inhabiting  a  burrow  evidently 
freshly  dug  by  themselves.  In  the  absence  of  the  large  bur- 
rowing squirrels,  or  other  animals  of  similar  size,  they  are 
sometimes  compelled  to  burrow,  but  do  not  seem  to  increase 
in  numbers  in  such  localities.  The  general  hardness  of  the 
soil  on  the  upland  is  also  an  obstacle  to  their  digging. 

On  March  10th  I  observed  the  first  Hummingbird  (prob- 
ably Atthis  cosfce,  which  Dr.  Kennerley  found  in  February 
1854,  in  the  warmer  valley  of  W^illiam's  Fork),  and  the 
same  day  saw  larije  flocks  of  geese  miirratino:  north.  The 
first  Rattlesnake  (Crotalus  atrox)  was  killed  this  day,  and  I 
obtained  the  first  Horned  Lizard  (DoUosaurus  platyrhinos) . 
The  weather  now  being  very  warm,  flocks  of  cranes,  swal- 
lows, and  various  winter  residents  were  seen  going  north- 
ward daily.  On  the  15th  I  saw  the  first  Bat  and  Western 
Whippoorwill,  and  on  the  U)th  shot  another  Mexican  Fly- 
catcher, probably  also  a  winter  resident.  There  is  evi- 
dently a  constant  moving  northward  of  the  winter  residents, 
but  apparently  none  from  Mexico. 

On  March  22d  I  obtained  the  first  seen  of  the  Pale  Spar- 
row (SpizeUa  pallida*),  which  seems  to  go  fiirther  south  to 

*  Decidedly  this  and  not  S.  Breioerii,  ■which  Coues  supposes  to  replace  it  in  Arizona 
and  westwards. 


476  NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

winter  than  the  S.  socialis,  but  the  first  birds  which  I  could 
consider  as  probably  the  leaders  of  the  summer  migration, 
were,  as  it  happened,  of  a  new  species,  viz.,  Helminihopliaga 
Luciae,  or  Lucy's  Warbler,  which  I  shot  at  first  sight  on 
March  29th,  the  two  first  being  males,  and  attracting  my 
notice  by  their  notes,  as  their  small  size  and  concealment  in 
the  dense  mesquite  thickets,  which  were  just  leafing  out, 
would  have  otherwise  prevented  tlieir  discovery  for  a  long 
time.  They  may  even  be  winter  residents  in  the  valley  like 
the  allied  //.  celata. 

The  first  nest  I  found  Avith  eggs  was  that  of  a  Shrike 
(^LaniiLS  excubitoroides)  on  the  19th,  and  on  the  2 (3th  ob- 
tained the  first  eggs  of  the  Quail,  of  the  Yellow-headed 
Titmouse  (which  builds  an  extraordinary  closed  nest  of 
thorny  twigs,  like  the  magpies's  in  miniature),  and  of 
Abert's  Pipilo. 

Burrows  were  not  uncommon  which  may  have  been  made 
by  Foxes  or  by  the  Badger  {Taxidea  Aynericana).  On 
March  30th,  visiting  a  steel  trap  which  I  had  set  for  bur- 
rowing animals  I  was  surprised  to  find  in  it  a  Swift  Fox 
(  Vul/pes  velox)  caught  by  the  toes.  Having  no  way  of  se- 
curing it  alive,  I  was  obliged  to  make  a  dead  specimen  of  it 
at  once,  fearing  it  might  tear  itself  away.  This  is  one  of 
the  mammalia  which  has  not  yet  been  detected  west  of  the 
Colorado,  though  it  undoubtedly  exists  there,  and  is  indeed 
but  a  dwarf  variety  of  the  common  Red  Fox.  Other  mam- 
mals which  I  had  obtained  were  Gambel's  Woodmouse,  be- 
fore mentioned ;  Audubon's  Hare  (fur  finer  than  near  the 
coast,  approaching  Lepus  artsmisioe) ,  Coyote  (Cams  la- 
trans),  killed  by  the  dogs  while  running  through  the  camp 
one  moonlight  night  in  January ;  Brush-tailed  Rat  {Perog- 
nallius  penicillatus) ,  quite  common  in  the  thatched  roofs ; 
Dark  Woodmouse  {He^ijperomys  austerusf),  before  ibund 
only  in  Washington  Territory,  but  undistinguishable  by  de- 
scriptions;  Boyle's  Woodmouse,  probably  a  mere  long-tailed 
variety  of  Gambel's ;  the  Mexican  Woodrat  (JSTeotoma  Mex- 


NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA.  477 

icana),  common  and  very  large;  Phillip's  Jumping-r:it  {Di- 
jpodomys  FJiilUppii),  common,  and  an  invader  of  dwellings. 
The  Texan  Hare  I  have  already  mentioned.  The  Indians 
also  brought  in  a  fawn,  apparently  of  the  OeiDUS  Columhia- 
nus,  which  seems  to  be  the  conmion  species  along  the  river, 
although  others  probably  exist.  They  also  brought  a  young 
antelope,  of  which  herds  were  seen  on  the  neighboring 
mesas  during  the  short  period  of  green  vegetation  in  spring. 
A  Wild-cat  {Lynx  rufus)  was  often  seen  at  dusk  al)out  the 
post  garden,  where  I  attempted  to  shoot  it  but  failed  for 
want  of  light.  My  inquiries  about  the  Californian  Opossum 
found  along  the  Mexican  boundary,  did  not  indicate  its  ex- 
istence in  this  valley,  though  it  will  be  found  there  if  au}^- 
wdiere  in  California,  nor  did  I  learn  of  any  other  carnivo- 
rous mammals.  Beavers  are  quite  common  in  the  river  and 
grow  to  an  enormous  size;  Gophers  [Thoinomys  fttlvus)  are 
also  common. 

Compared  with  Kennerley's  collections,  in  1854,  and 
Cones',  in  18G5,  at  Fort  Whipple,  the  first  quarter  of  1861 
must  have  been  unusually  cold.  April  proved  to  be  the 
month  for  the  arrival  of  the  great  body  of  summer  birds, 
althouirh  a  week  before  I  saw  what  I  took  to  be  a  Fork- 
tailed  Flycatcher  {Milvulus  foi'ficatusf),  a  species  never  yet 
obtained  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  a  Scarlet  Fl}^- 
catcher  {Pyrocephalus  Mexicanus) ,  which  is  a  rare  summer 
visitor,  about  which  I  could  not  be  mistaken,  though  neither 
would  allow  of  a  near  approach.  I  obtained  the  following, 
usually  as  soon  as  observed:  April  2d,  Adhis  costce;  3d, 
Bullock's  Oriole  (Icterus  BuUockii)  ;  and  saw  an  Empidonax, 
Barn  Swallows,  and  Summer  Yellow-bird  ;  a  ground  Cuckoo 
(Geococcyx  Calif  or  nianiis)  laid  an  egg  in  its  cage.  11th, 
shot  an  Obscure  Flycatcher  (Emjjidonax  obscurus).  17th, 
Texan  Nighthawk  ( Chordelles  Texensis) ,  and  saw  the  first 
eggs  of  Orioles.  24th,  McGillivray's  Warbler  {GeotJdypis 
McGilUvrayi) ,  Yellow-breasted  Chat  (Icteria  viridis,  not 
long-tailed),    Arkansas     Kingbird     (Tyrannus    veriicalis). 


478  NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA. 

25th,  found  the  eggs  of  Common  Doves.  26th,  shot  a  new 
species  of  Owl  {Micrathene  Whitneyi)  iu  a  dark  thicket. 
28th,  Summer  Ked-bird  [Pijranga  oestiva).  29th,  found  a 
nest  and  two  eggs  of  the  Shining  Flycatcher.  In  this  month 
I  saw  an  unknown  species  of  Oriole  in  the  high  trees,  like 
Icterus  Parisorum  Bouap. 

On  April  6th  I  trapped  a  squirrel,  of  a  species  which  I 
had  not  before  observed,  a  third  larger  than  Harris',  and 
dark-brown  instead  of  gray,  but  with  proportions  and  mark- 
ings so  exactly  like  the  desert  species,  that,  remembering 
the  varieties  of  the  Four-striped  Tamias,  I  did  not  dare  to 
consider  this  distinct.  It  was  all  I  saw  of  the  kind,  which 
may  be  common  in  the  wooded  mountains  of  Arizona.  On 
the  13th  I  obtained  the  first  Pale  Bat,  before  noted. 

Reptiles  had  now  become  common  in  the  valley,  and  were 
mostly  distinct  species  from  those  of  the  deserts.  Besides 
those  mentioned,  a  large  Fence  Lizard  (Sceloporus  ma- 
gister?),  eight  inches  long,  began  to  frequent  the  trees 
March  20th,  and  on  the  23d,  three  young  of  my  new  Laud 
Tortoise  {Xerohales  Agassizii)  were  brought  from  the  moun- 
tains by  Indians.  The  Thirsty  Lizard  (^Dipsosaurus  dor- 
salis)  became  connnon  in  the  ravines  near  by,  far  from 
water.  On  the  30th  I  caught  Graham's  Salvadora  (^S.  Gra- 
hamii)^  a  pretty  harmless  snake  living  in  the  grassy  valley. 
April  15th,  Woodhouse's  Toad*  first  appeared  on  the  drier 
banks;  17th,  Churchill's  Bull-snake  {Pituophis  beUona)  ; 
26th,  Boyle's  Milk-snake  {Lamjyropeltis  Boylii)  ;  29th,  the 
Coppery  Whip-snake  (^Masticojohis  testaceus),  and  some  very 
swift  lizards  (^Croiajj/ii/lus  sp.)  which  I  did  not  succeed  in 
catching,  appeared  on  the  desert  plains. 

On  May  1st  I  shot  the  Little  Flycatcher  (Pmpidonax  pu- 
sillus),  which  I  then  mistook  for  P.  Traillii,  but  find  by  my 
notes  that  this  one  differed  from  a  true  specimen  of  the  lat- 
ter, shot  on  May  20th,  in  having  the  lower  mandible  brown- 
ish instead  of  yellowish  and  iu  proportions.    It  was  lost,  with 

♦Dr.  Keuneiiey  found  toads  nt  William's  Fork,  Febniary  18th,  1864. 


NATURALIST    IN    CALIFORNIA.  479 

a  valuable  collection  sent  by  the  "Golden  Gate,"  on  the  way 
to  Washington,  but  I  happened  to  reserve  the  other  one, 
about  the  occurrence  of  which  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
there  has  been  some  discussion.* 

May  (Jth,  shot  the  first  Blue  Grosbeak  (Guh'aca  coerulea)  ; 
14th,  the  Blue-headed  Grcenlet  (  FtVeo  solitavius^),  \;\\\(A\ 
Dr.  Cones  omits  from  the  birds  of  Arizona,  supposing  it  to 
be  his  V.  plumheus,  which  however  is  quite  distinct,  and  one 
I  did  not  obtain. $ 

May  19th  I  found  a  nest  of  the  Yellow-breasted  Chat 
containins:  thrcic  eirijs,  besides  one  of  the  parasitic  Cow-bird  ; 
on  the  8th  a  nest  of  the  House  Finch,  or  Red  Linnet  (Car- 
podacus  frontalis),  wdth  eggs,  and  on  the  19th  that  of  the 
Song  Sparrow  [Melospiza  fcdlax).§  May  20th  I  first  saw 
the  Blue  Linnet  (Ci/anospiza  amoena),  and  shot  Hammond's 
and   Traill's    Flycatchers   (Empidonax  Hammondii  and  E. 

*  See  Coues'  List  of  Birds  of  Fort  Whipple,  Arizona,  in  "  Proceedings  of  tlie  Pliila- 
delpliia  Academy  of  Natural  Science,"  January,  186G.  Compare  also  Coues,  in  "  Ibis," 
April,  181)5,  and  July,  18GG;  Baird  on  Distribution  of  Birds,  in  "  Silliman's  Journal,"  and 
my  article  on  Additions  to  the  Fauna  of  California,  in  the  "  Proceedings  of  the  Califor- 
nia Academy  of  Sciences,"  1\,  iii,  November,  ISfiS. 

tLength4.87;  extent  9;  M'ing  3  inches;  bill  black;  lower  mandible  bluish;  feet  lead 
color;  iris  brown;  male. 

X  I  take  this  occasion  to  notice  the  prevalence  of  lead-gray  among  the  arboreal  birds 
of  these  arid  regions,  just  as  brown  prevails  among  the  more  terrestrial.  It  replaces 
the  brown,  olive  or  greenish,  in  many  species  also  found  in  moister  and  more  wooded 
regions,  while  others,  difl"ering  in  other  respects  from  their  eastern  representatives, 
are  considered  as  distinct  species  peculiar  to  these  regions.  The  Pigeon  Hawk  (Falco 
columbarius),  Mottled  Owl  {Scops  asio  var.  McCalUi),  Niglit  Hawk  {Chordeiles  popetue 
var.  Ilenryi),  Icteria  viridls  var.  longicauda,  Thriothorus  {Bewickii  var.?)  leucogaster, 
Pocecetes  {(/rconineus  var.  ?)  conjinis,  Melaspiza  {melodia  var.  ?)  fallax,  Sturnella  (imigna 
var.  ?)  »ej^/ec<rt,  and  Ground  Dove  {Chaiiunpelia pusserina  var.  pallescens),  furnish  exam- 
ples of  more  or  less  marked  difl'erences  in  tliis  respect  IVom  those  of  other  regions.  The 
gray  species  as  usually  recognized,  are  the  Hare  lliiwk  (Falco ])olyogriis),  Squirrel  Hawk 
{Archibuteo  fernigineus),  Micraihene  Whitneyi,  Nuttall's  Whippoorwill  {Atitroftomus 
Kuttallii),  Weatern  Kingbirds  {Tyrannus  vociferans  and  rcrficn^ts).  Say's  Pewee  {Say- 
ornis  Sayiis),  Empidonax  obscurus,  PoUoptUa  plumbea,  Grace's  Warbler  {Dendrceca 
Gracice  Coues)  of  Fort  Whipple,  Ilelminthophaga  LucicB,  Swainson's  Vireo  (  V.  Sicain- 
soni),  Lead-colored  Vireo  ( ('.  plumbeiis),  Cones'  Vireo  (  V.  vicinior) ;  these  last  three  IVom 
Fort  Whipple;  Little  Xiveo  (V.  piisillns),  Lead-colored  Titmouse  (/'sa/^ri^arus  plum- 
belts),  Lawrence's  Goldfinch  {Chrysomitris  Lawrencii),  Pale  Snowbird  {Junco  caniceps), 
all  of  which  have  darker-colored  representatives  either  east  of  the  Mississippi,  or  on 
the  west  coast,  or  both,  Avhjle  some  of  them  extend  theii-  range  to  one  or  both  of  those 
natural  boundaries. 

§  The  nesting,  as  well  as  the  arrival  of  many  birds,  was  ftom  one  to  two  months 
later  than  at  San  Diego  in  1802. 


480  NATURALIST    IJ^    CALIFORNIA. 

TrailUi)  ;  also,  Ricburdson's  Pewee  {Contopus  Ricliard- 
sonii)  and  Black-cap  Warbler  (^Mijiodioctes  pusillus)  .*  Tbe 
only  mammals  I  obtained  were  a  small  Bat  (  VespertiUo  Yu- 
manensis?) ,  and  tbe  typical  gray  variety  of  Harris'  Sper- 
mopbile,  sbot  some  miles  from  tbe  river  on  Maj^  28tb,  tbe 
day  I  started  to  retnrn  to  tbe  coast.  Tbe  reptiles  added 
were  tbe  Colorado  Toad  {Biifo  alvarius)^  an  enormous 
semiaquatic  species  nearly  as  smootb  as  a  frog ;  and  several 
otbers  on  tbe  way  westward  wbicb  do  not  ai3pear  to  inhabit 
tbe  valley. 

^  Fisb  seemed  to  be  scarce  in  tbis  muddy  river,  and  I  only 
obtained  tbree  sjDecies  of  cyprinoids  :  a  large  one  called  Col- 
orado Salmon  (^PtycJiocheilus  lucius),  a  Gila  (6r.  robusiaf), 
and  one  allied  to  tbe  Suckers  [Catostomus) .  Mollusca  were 
equally  rare,  and  a  few  specimens  of  tbe  remarkable  Physa 
humerosa  and  PJanorbis  amnion  were  all  I  found.  My  col- 
lection of  vertebrata  made  at  Fort  Mojave  numbered  100 
species,  and  250  specimens. 

I  migbt  enumerate  many  otber  species  tlmt  bave  been  ob- 
tained in  tbe  Colorado  Valley  by  otber  collectors,  but  it 
would  be  too  long  a  list.  I  bave,  altogetber,  counted  up 
twenty-tbree  species  of  mammals,  one  bundred  and  nine- 
teen birds,  and  ten  reptiles,  as  found  tbere  at  various  sea- 
sons, some  of  wbicb  I  beard  of  as  visiting  Fort  Mojave 
later  tban  my  stay  tbere.  By  May  15tb  tbe  spring  rains 
w^ere  over  and  tbe  sbort  vegetation  of  tbe  mesas  was  drying 
up.  About  tbis  time  also  tbe  river  was  rising  rapidly, 
bringing  down  cold  water  from  tbe  mountains,  and  moder- 
ating tbe  beat  wbicb  bad  been  as  bigb  as  116°  in  tbe  sbade 
on  April  20tb.  Tbe  summer  wind  began  to  blow  from  tbe 
south,  and  would,  probably,  bring  some  of  tbe  latest  birds 
witb  it,  wbile  otbers  would  come  after  tbe  floods  to  seek  tbe 
food  left  by  tbe  subsiding  waters.  Among  tbese  bave  been 
seen  tbe  strange  Vulture-eagles  (Poli/borus  Audubonii  and 

*On  tlie  27th  I  saw  the  only  one  of  the  rare  Western  W&vhlev  {Dendraca  periden- 
talis),  and  the  first  Sea-gi-een  Swallows. 


HINTS    ON    TAXIDERMY.  481 

Craxirex  unicinctus),  the  little  Ground  Dove,  and  the  quaint 
Wood  Ibis,  called  there  "Colorado  Turkey"  {Tantalus  locu- 
lator) . 

My  object  has  been  to  give  merely  a  sketch  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  fauna!  seasons,  as  I  saw  them. 


HINTS   ON   TAXIDERMY. 

BY   C.    A.    WALKER. 

[Concluded  from  page  201.1 

The  method  of  shinning  and  mounting  tortoises  and  turtles. 
— By  examining  the  exterior  covering  of  this  order  it  Avill 
be  seen  that  it  consists  of  two  horny  plates  or  shields,  which 
are  closely  united  at  the  sides,  forming  a  protection  to  the 
soft  parts  of  the  body  ;  the  upper  one  is  called  the  carapace, 
and  the  lower  one  the  sternum  or  breast  bone.  Before  com- 
mencing the  operation  of  skinning  it  is  necessary  to  sepa- 
rate these  two  plates  by  means  of  a  strong  knife,  chisel,  or 
other  similar  instrument,  or  a  fine  saw,  taking  great  care  to 
make  the  separation  at  the  suture,  as  far  as  possible,  and 
to  avoid  cracking  the  shell.  After  this  operation  has  been 
finished  remove  all  the  flesh  adhering  to  both  the  upper  and 
under  plates.  The  arrangement  of  the  bones  and  muscles 
difters  so  essentially  from  that  of  the  other  orders  of  verte- 
brates that  attention  should  be  given  to  this  point  in  remov- 
ing the  various  parts.  The  fore  and  hind  legs  should  be 
turned  out,  and  all  the  flesh  adhering  to  them  removed, 
taking  care  not  to  separate  these  various  parts  from  their 
attachments  to  the  upper  shell ;  also,  the  neck  and  head 
should  undergo  the  same  opei'ation,  the  brain  and  eyes  being 
removed.  The  inner  surface  should  now  be  thoroughly 
cleaned  by  means  of  a  stiff"  brush,  and  the  preservative  ap- 
plied to  every  part,  after  which  they  may  be  restored  to 

AMKR,  NATURALIST,    VOL.    III.  61 


482  HINTS    ON    TAXIDERMY. 

position,  having  previously  filled  the  eye  sockets  and  cavity 
of  the  brain  with  cotton.  In  stufiing,  commence  by  re- 
storing the  neck  to  its  natural  form  with  cut  tow.  A  wire 
(the  body  support),  well  pointed,  should  next  be  inserted  at 
the  top  of  the  head,  upon  the  outer  surface,  and  passed 
down  through  the  cut  toAv  within  the  neck,  across  the  space 
previously  occupied  by  the  body,  and  thence  through  the 
tail  until  it  protrudes  at  the  tip  of  the  same.  The  other 
wires,  or  leg  supports,  should  be  inserted  at  the  soles  of  each 
foot,  up  within  the  skin  of  the  legs,  and  secured  firmly  to 
the  main  body  support.  The  adjustment  of  the  wires  is 
essentiall}'  the  same  as  recommended  in  the  mounting  of  the 
larger  mammalia.  The  various  muscles  should  now  be  imi- 
tated with  cut  tow,  and  the  upper  and  under  plates  joined. 
This  may  be  accomplished  by  bi-inging  them  together,  and 
boring  four  small  holes  with  an  awl,  two  at  one  end,  the 
one  above  and  the  other  beneath  the  suture,  and  the  same 
at  the  other  end,  uniting  them  by  means  of  fine  annealed 
wire.  Cement  may  also  be  used  with  advantage  in  this  oper- 
ation. The  carapace  may  be  cleaned  with  a  weak  solution 
of  nitric  acid  and  water,  washing  it  freely ;  afterwards  it 
may  be  oiled  and  rubbed  with  a  piece  of  flannel. 

Of  crocodiles  ondlizards  in  general. — All  of  the  smaller 
species  should  be  preserved  iu  spirits,  of  about  75  per  cent 
strength.  The  larger  of  this  group  are  skinned  in  the  same 
manner  as  a  quadruped  ;  especial  care  is,  however,  required 
in  skinning  the  tails,  as  they  are  very  liable  to  break.  But 
little  preservative  is  needed,  the  skins  being  of  a  dry  nature. 
They  may  also  be  stuffed  in  the  same  manner  as  a  quadruped, 
and  little  skill  is  required  to  get  them  in  shape. 

Of  serpents.  —  With  the  larger  specimens,  such  as  cannot 
be  readily  preserved  in  alcohol,  the  following  method  should 
be  adopted  in  removing  the  skin.  Open  the  mouth  to  its 
utmost  capacity  and  insert  therein  a  stick  to  retain  it  in  this 
position.  With  the  aid  of  the  scalpel  sever  the  body  from 
the  head  within  the  skin,  leaving  no  attachments  whatever. 


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